The Illinois Department of Labor and Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal are working together across the state to inspect haunted houses before visitors are
welcomed inside.
All haunted houses are required to be inspected by OSFM
prior to operation, though haunted houses operated by not-for-profit religious, educational, or charitable organizations can apply for an exemption from IDOL inspection.
Two tragic fires in the 1970s and 1980s at haunted houses led to closer scrutiny of haunted house safety.
Most haunted houses in Illinois today are required to have smoke detectors and be protected by automatic sprinkler
systems.
